The draw for the 2009 PDC World Darts Championship has taken place and once again all eyes will be on Phil Taylor to win the tournament for the first time since 2006.

The 13-time World Champion hasn’t won the big prize in either of the last two seasons and that isn’t exactly the norm! In 2007 he was part of arguably the greatest darts match in history and without a doubt the best one that I’ve ever seen. After going 3-0 up on Raymond van Barneveld, the Dutchman went away at the break and came back firing on all cylinders.

The tie went down to the final sudden death leg and after Barney went and won the throw, Taylor threw a 180 and looked very much in command only for his rival to respond in kind with a 180 of his own. Barney missed a double top for the title but would return to the board with three darts for all the marbles and only needed the one.

Last year Taylor was just not at the races throughout the whole competition and didn’t make the latter stages of the competition. He though is the huge odds on favourite already at 4/7 with SkyBet and only Barney (7/1) and James Wade (7/1) are even within touching distance if you go by where the punters are putting their money.

The tie of the first round is clearly between former BDO World Champion Jelle Klassen and former PDC #1 Colin Lloyd. This will get the tournament off to a good start and also there is a chance for a woman to make the first round proper. Anastasia Dobromyslova is in the preliminary round and should she win that match then she will compete in the television stages of the tournament.

The tournament is live and exclusive on SkySports from the 19th December with the final on Sunday 4th January.